Act I | Little Shop of Horrors | Original Off-Broadway Production

Here is a video recording of act one of the original off-Broadway production of "Little Shop of Horrors," filmed from the audience in June of 1984 at the Orpheum Theatre. Directed by Howard Ashman, who also supplied the musical's book and lyrics, the music was composed by Alan Menken.
Fyvush Finkel served as the understudy for Mr. Mushnik in the original cast, while Brad Moraz served as the understudy for Seymour, Audrey II, and Orin / Everyone Else. Marsha Waterbury (then going by the name Marsha Skaggs) would go on to play Audrey in a few regional productions of Little Shop, as well as an English-language production that toured Japan between 1986 and 1987.
The video has been stabilized using KZbin.
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CAST
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Brad Moranz............................Seymour
Marsha Skaggs.......................Audrey
Fyvush Finkel...........................Mr. Mushnik
Jennifer Leigh Warren.............Crystal
Sheila Kay Davis.......................Ronnette
Leilani Jones............................Chiffon
Robert Frisch............................Orin / Everyone Else
Lynn Hippen..............................Derelict / Audrey II (Manipulation)
Ron Taylor.................................Voice of Audrey II
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PRODUCTION
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(Based on Opening Night)
David Geffen.............................Producer
Cameron Mackintosh..............Producer
Shubert Organization...............Producer
WPA Theatre.............................Producer
Howard Ashman.......................Book
Howard Ashman.......................Lyricist
Alan Menken.............................Composer
Howard Ashman.......................Director
Edie Cowan...............................Musical Staging
Edward T. Gianfrancesco.........Set Designer
Sally J. Lesser...........................Costume Designer
Craig Evans................................Lighting Designer
Otts Munderloh.........................Sound Designer
Martin P. Robinson....................Puppet Designer
Albert Poland..............................General Manager
Warren Knowlton........................Press Representative
Kevin Patterson..........................Press Representative
Milly Schoenbaum......................Press Representative
Solters/Roskin/Friedman Inc.....Press Representative
Paul Mills Holmes.......................Production Stage Manager
Robert Billig.................................Vocal Arrangements
Robby Merkin..............................Orchestrations
Robert Billig.................................Music Supervisor
Steve Gelfand..............................Guitar
Robby Merkin...............................Keyboards
Steve Ferrara................................Percussion
Robert Billig..................................Piano

[@LittleShopArchive]

Happy Little Shop day. :)

[@jonathanianthompson]

The Little Shop Archive :')

[@ArtistTheArtist05]

The Little Shop Archive this oh so happens to be my Bday as well!

[@eweezy3596]

What’s little shop day

[@dantemaritato]

@@eweezy3596 September 21, the day Audrey two arrived

[@osherratzabi6423]

Happy Little Shop day!

[@soulfur1031]

It's interesting to hear laughter at jokes that only made sense at this period of time

[@amilmyrick7323]

My favorite part of any history piece

[@RichBiev]

But the show takes place in the early 60s and was written in the early 80s.

[@scoopishere7881]

Fun Fact: The guy who designed the puppets here also voiced Telly Monster on Sesame Street. Things in the puppetry world are incredibly interconnected and you’ll see performers recurring in many different projects. Uma from Oobi and Kate Monster from Avenue Q are played by the same actress for example.

[@MaxEverywhereSystem]

and to tie it all together, the film adaptation was directed by frank oz, whos the original puppeteer of characters like miss piggy and cookie monster

[@seymourkrelborn4780]

That first customer spends the equivalent of approximately $819.98 US in today's spending money

[@tatumsteel6813]

Camara Rhodes im pretty sure you can do conversions based on inflation online.

[@seymourkrelborn4780]

@@FlyBoyMT I am refering to the setting within the story, 1960. Not the year it was performed.

[@MS-df2fk]

Her "Somewhere That's Green" was really touching.

[@sohoboy506]

Marsha was a fantastic Audrey replacement!! Loved her.

[@AdeBamforth]

Many of those people probably had no idea the plant would sing, or that he was a dentist.

[@kimlechman5856]

I gotta say, for the early 1980’s, the plant is impressive

[@tysargent9647]

After knowing the creative team behind the plant, it makes sense. For the off-Broadway production, Audrey II was designed, built and originally manipulated by Martin P. Robinson, a longtime puppeteer for Sesame Street and other Jim Henson productions, who would go on to design and operate the plant in the Broadway version two decades later. For this particular performance, the plant was puppeteered by Lynn Hippen, a core performer for the Nick Jr. series Eureeka's Castle (she played Cooey, Magellan the Dragon's gerbil/doglike pet).

[@hunterolaughlin]

@@tysargent9647 Very interesting that Martin P. Robinson designed and built the Audrey II puppets for both the original Off-Broadway show and the 2003 Broadway revival, although I already know this fact, because looking at this Audrey II puppet, it would really feel right at home in a Jim Henson production.

[@4dultw1thj0b]

Damn, the songs were really fast!

[@Joshua_Quinzel_Isley]

Well,that was part of Howard Ashman's Direction

[@bareabopopera3091]

AlwaysGonnaSing all the tempos on the cast album were slowed down

[@CoryAlphin]

I thought I was on 2X speed to start. Was totally surprised to see normal speed! LOL

[@goodmythicalmukbang3757]

Play it on .75 speed

[@SubToFGIGA]

yeah I know!

[@seymourkrelborn4780]

I hope we find a 1982 recording, Lee Wilkof and Ellen Greene are amazing

[@justanotherbohemian3827]

Oh hey Seymour...

[@robertlauncher]

Feed me

[@geraldinewoods254]

Hi Louis tolley

[@smurf902]

There's the cast album (audio)

[@elwoodjblues]

@@smurf902 that doesn’t count

[@dare2win215]

"I keep asking God what I'm for and he tells me "gee, I'm not sure"" lol. This line kills me every time! I want to see this in its entirety so badly. This really should be made into a film!

[@pokemonlovers4907]

It is it just came out a few years

[@pokemonlovers4907]

In 1986

[@joshsauer4725]

@@pokemonlovers4907 “a few years ago”…😂

[@pokemonlovers4907]

I was joking

[@jellyjoe]

It's really surprising that people were able to sneak in cameras given the size of them in 1982 🤣🤣

[@jivonleejackson1673]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@franklesser5655]

I was lucky to see this production in the Fall of 1983. Such fun!

[@Tornado1994]

This is the '84 version. Ellen Greene toured the London Circuit during 1984-1985 and started Film pre production alongside Newly cast Rick Moranis.

[@quentinquale1694]

'84 version? It's the original version. The original run was 1982 - 1987. There was just one version during that time. Only "Mushnik And Son" changed during the run.

[@onnapnewo]

She also didn’t tour London with it, she was in the London production.

[@sohoboy506]

@@onnapnewo ever see any Audio or video from that production?

[@TruthWarriorB88]

"Now! For the girl. Now! For the plant. Now! YES, I WILL! But I can't."

[@scootie_scoot]

17:44 this version of “ya never know” is one of my favorites! they all have such good chemistry and this seymour is really talented with giving the Audrey II character !! I love the choreography too !! aah such a good production

[@hannah_brooks]

HOLY HELL IVE BEEN WANTING TO FIND THIS FOR FOREVER

[@americanrtv5605]

xXHannahSalvatoreXx for years I was searching as well! I can't believe this is here!

[@nokocchi1983]

marsha skaggs is really good as audrey!!

[@joshuacastelan1592]

Wow, i tought i would never see a recording of this production

[@quinnlee-miller9792]

It’s really sweet how Mushnick cares about Audrey; had he met Orrin, he would’ve beat the shit out of him for hitting Audrey. Or tried, I guess.

[@BuzzardPlanet97]

Lots of chuckles at the Mrs Shiva line, sounds like some people were familiar with the original 1960 movie

[@spyfieri]

or Jewish

[@hunterolaughlin]

And the first customer that inquired about Audrey II does remind me of that one customer played by Dick Miller, who would later play Murray Futterman in the Gremlins films, who would always eat the flowers he’d buy. Also the teenage girls visiting the shop in the original being the inspiration for Crystal, Ronette & Chiffon.

[@ADAMSIXTIES]

I remember the TV ads for this i '82 when it first opened.

[@uri-official7549]

"and what kind of a place is that, hoooooooney" 22:05

[@christiantshibanda5089]

51:08 Audrey 2's touge is flying around!

[@davidpacheco7124]

Love this show. Saw it 8 times Off Broadway back in the day 💕💕💕

[@MisterG2323]

Had to come back and enjoy this again. So nice to see a primo production after some of the many misfires I've caught over the last year of lockdown here on KZbin. I like the breakneck tempos, it move things right along, leaving more time, for instance, for Audrey to shine on "Somewhere That's Green." This show has great pace! And Audrey II, oh, my! Rockin'! Thanks again for posting this wonderful slice of history!

[@nextgentacos123]

Am I crazy if I think some of Audrey II’s body language is kinda cute? Like when he’s bouncing in the pot?

[@ValkyrieCain123]

Nah I've always found that adorable lol

[@justanotherbohemian3827]

9:54 though. The real Audrey is soo cute too

[@evilrobotchris]

I've watched this three times now trying to get the bass parts down, and just finally read the description. I never realized that was Fyvush Finkel, super cool.

[@reyb.7918]

I love Audrey, especially Ellen Geene’s interpretation, but I find this version especially precious 🥰

[@caleb1413]

This is actually super good quality for a recording of the era!

[@jonathanianthompson]

Awesome find

[@allyciphers492]

Jonathan Thompson I know you

[@jonathanianthompson]

Ally Ciphers I know you too :')

[@jippy6893]

y’all my school did a production of little Shop and Jesus Christ these songs are ridiculously fast

[@bareabopopera3091]

GoldenLion 5 the tempos on the original cast recording were slowed down from the original production, so that’s how people think it should go now, but it was supposed to be slower

[@jivonleejackson1673]

The totally awesome production that begot the totally awesome film. Thank the universe for KZbin. Any & everybody has any & everything. In 1982 I was 3, to be able to see this ever is wonderful.

[@megamike15]

i wish this was the seymour from the soundtrack of the off bradway show. he was my personally favorite.

[@joshhoover2543]

Great find

[@lruhman7715]

Oh my gosh! I saw this in L.A. in 1983 with my dad, at the Westwood Playhouse. So much fun!! Afterwards, we walked over to Tower Records to buy the cast album. ❤

[@lennon4710]

MY GOD THANK YOU

[@SubToFGIGA]

The first 2 songs went ssssuupppeeerrr fast!

[@MarioMartinez-ek5ev]

The first song was expanded in the 1986 movie and has been a staple since

[@hunterolaughlin]

@@MarioMartinez-ek5ev Not always. The expanded version is optional as most productions I’ve seen on KZbin, whether they’d be community theater or high school sometimes use the shorter version. Even the recent Off-Broadway revival used the shorter version of the opening song.

[@bryantkeller9278]

The urchins are completely FAB.

[@coolguysandgalspicturestud148]

I saw Little Shop of Horrors at Van Intermediate School and it was very amazing.

[@AJ-cq5pw]

Kinda weird watching them laugh at her being abused by her boyfriend but different time I guess

[@Filmgirlphilosopher]

No it's still meant to be funny even today. It's called Dark Comedy. The point of which is to laugh at the ridiculous ills of humanity and society. Humans sometimes are more likely to look away when they see the horrors in this world, they ignore them because it's painful to see, but by telling those same stories with humor you can attract even those fearful audiences and the whole time they think they are being entertained. They are being entertained, but they are also being shown those horrible things they ignored before and being forced to acknowledge it in some way, even if it's not a big way. This is the beauty and truth that is art and theater. The fact that you feel it can't be funny today does show that the goal was achieved. Society today takes these things more seriously and I would suggest that is in large part due to the arts bringing these stories to our attention. Sometimes through drama, and more easily swallowed through comedy.

[@ketepunzelmank4701]

@@Filmgirlphilosopher Modern productions actually tend to dramatize "Scuse me, doctor". When I saw the 2019 revival they had perfect acting beats of when we should be laughing and when we shouldn't at Orin.

[@jskhfsdkfnhskmdkfnhjksmmdf1269]

i fucking love thsi musical. im so hyperfixated.

[@Jos7h]

How? Incredible

[@mygaffer]

How cool!

[@omgwth7567]

35 years past.

[@TheCommonGentry]

this is amazing. the mere existence of this recording is amazing. did the production house record this? cuz smuggling in a 1980s camcorder is a feat to behold..

[@caleb1413]

This seems to be audience recorded given that it lacks stability. A remarkable achievement for the time!

[@kevinfishburne]

Best expression of the music online other than the film soundtrack. Well-executed. Thank you. :)

[@emperorpalpatine1986]

”and several other medical problems” HAHAHAHAH

[@peggyknecht5551]

Ellen Greene is such a great singer!

[@jedijones]

The dentist sounds a lot like BATB's Gaston here.

[@Filmgirlphilosopher]

I am so glad someone filmed this, however they are the worst camera person and that is unfortunate. Not even focussing on Audrey during her singing part. I guess back in the 80s they didn't film videos thinking one day everyone in the world will be able to watch this on KZbin lol ! What a time to be alive!

[@hunterolaughlin]

Ikr? Even I could film this much better than whoever was filming this.

[@Pinkiepiefan448]

I mean the alternative to not be able to see at all

[@BradTea]

I would like to know how the person filming this snuck a large 1980s video camera in to the theatre and never got caught filming!

[@gaymenarepretty1015]

I know this comment is late late late but I really enjoyed the cast I thought I was a great first peformance

[@spadinnerxylaphone2622]

I'm about to play the plant (puppeteer, not voice) and I'm trying to figure out what fits where

[@tysargent9647]

OK. Let's say you were puppeteering the third plant pod (the "Feed Me" plant). For the head of the plant, you basically have to curl your hands into fists, put them together, and then stretch and push them toward each other for the movement of the puppet's mouth (your right hand in the upper lip, your left hand in the bottom lip). The tricky part is being able to do it quickly enough to get a good lip-sync.

[@OptimusPhillip]

Was that... was that an _intestine?!_

[@saidokurakutm3328]

40:40 are you sure that's Ron Taylor? He sounds a little bit different

[@saidokurakutm3328]

Or is this his understudy

[@LittleShopArchive]

+Saido Kuraku After comparing this to the original cast album, I think it's Ron

[@saidokurakutm3328]

The Little Shop Archive Oh ok

[@bustaload714]

If you look at the curtain call, the voice actor looks a little thin to be Ron

[@donnarosefletcher144]

It's not Ron. It's his vacation replacement Jimmy Lockett. Jimmy did a pretty good imitation of Ron but it's obviously not Ron in the curtain call. I was the assistant stage manager at this point in the run. Based on the original performance reports Jimmy covered all 8 performances from June 19-24. However the Puppeteer, clearly Lynn Hippen, was out for the 4 weekend shows to observe and note her new understudy. That means this recording had to be from the first half of the week. I think it was most likely on the 19th based on the late opening of the stage right screen for the finale, when a new sub was in for that backstage track.

[@alyssahansen1400]

19:51

[@imbreakingdown2683]

Audrey II NOT THIS YEAR PLEASE

[@DomDaBeast]

Is this Lee Wilkof as Seymour in this recording?

[@LittleShopArchive]

Brad Moranz

[@DomDaBeast]

@@LittleShopArchive thanks!

[@rachelcox6472]

Is this sped up? They sing so fast

[@mrcrapucinno]

why were the songs so fast?

[@castle3267]

Because breathing is for the week

[@TheRedCapesClan]

Where's Ellen Green? :o

[@LittleShopArchive]

+Freakzilladark By this point, Ellen Greene had left the production and Marsha Skaggs had taken over the role.

[@jedijones]

@@LittleShopArchive Did anyone else besides these two ever play Audrey during the Off-Broadway run?

[@jedijones]

Apparently Ellen Greene moved to London to do the show when it opened there, which I think was on October 12, 1983. So she must've only played Audrey in the U.S. for less than 18 months of the show's 5-year run here. She also apparently left the London show at some point before June 1985 to start work on the movie and do other TV and movie parts.

[@Itstonytime77]

@@jedijones I think Faith Prince closed show off Broadway? I saw the archival video of the show which is a pro shot copy at Lincoln Center Theatre Archives and if I'm correct I believe Faith Prince is Audrey.

[@smurf902]

@@Itstonytime77 what's interesting is she did do the role, and was actually hired to do the role as the original before it opened, but she had to back out to do something else, and then they went with their 2nd choice, which was Ellen. Wow what a turn of events! Similarly, 3 different roles - Elphaba, The lead in Crazy for You and also Into the Woods had actresses that were originally cast but then left or were replaced as the opening cast and then later on still came back in the same original run. Stephanie Block - workshop/then later in the Bway run, Karen Ziemba in Crazy for you (written with her in mind but later replaced with Jodi Benson as the opening night and then replaced by Jodi), and Ellen Foley as the witch in Into the Woods (actually the original in the first workshop was Betty Buckley but Old Globe was Ellen) and then Bernadette came in for the Bway run but eventually Ellen did it on Bway as well.

[@vicentehizon6202]

The songs are going to fast I can hardly keep up.

[@perryjimenez5629]

I was reading the credits in the description, and I saw that you labeled Lynn Hippen as a Manipulator rather than a puppeteer? ouch, as a member of the puppeteering community we consider Audrey 2 as a puppet and anyone who does his physical performance is a puppeteer,

[@onnapnewo]

You should take that up with whoever put the original Playbill together, and decided to bill them as Audrey II (Manipulation) and Audrey II (Voice) in that order. Presumably Martin P. Robinson, legendary puppeteer, the creator of these Audrey IIs, and their original manipulator for this production, didn’t mind that credit.

[@JAKECOT_CENTER]

There’s some distortion on the tape in the beginning

[@quentinquale1694]

This is a rare, old recording that would've been on VHS. Don't bitch about stupid things.

[@dantemaritato]

@@quentinquale1694 perfect reply

[@madgadgetss]

there must be a specific reason for *that* scene missing, right? i've checked so many plays already, come on!

[@tadhgknight3484]

What scene

[@madgadgetss]

_my fAv sCEne_ with fav character at the dentist before seymour gets there but i've found out why it's missing in the meantime, _it's not even in the stage version in general,_ only in the movies... sad times to become obsessed with something new and exciting

[@hunterclark9531]

@@madgadgetss oh the one with bill murray? Yeah. The movie and the Broadway productions are different in so many ways. Scenes taken out of the movie that were in the play, new songs in the movie along with new scenes, new ending

[@madgadgetss]

@@hunterclark9531 so mean :( where do i find other media with this character dynamic? this is literally the only instance i've ever seen it, what do you even call it

[@hunterclark9531]

@@madgadgetss comedy

[@Baymax678-se5vt]

Likewow, i might have been in the audience right there.......taking a risk on a totally unknown show back then - but i loved Roger Corman so what did i have to lose? (and so easy to get AFFORDABLE tickets.....